Malmaison, Princes Dock, Liverpool

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The Times deputy travel editor took her toddler to this boutique hotel and found a warm welcome for youngster and mum

We’re hardly the hip young clients Malmaison is targeting with one of its latest properties, the Manhattan-esque slate-coloured building that opened overlooking Liverpool’s Princes Docks earlier this year. One of us is the wrong side of 40, the other a toddler. So I’m slightly worried as we enter the lobby, with its high-backed chairs and double-height ceilings.

But Liverpool, European capital of culture for 2008, is buzzing now. So, too, is the Mal, the first purpose-built hotel in the chain. The service is young, slick and friendly. Ageism obviously isn’t a problem – the receptionist starts chatting to my son,